Method and apparatus for bar code data interchange

ABSTRACT

A new method and system for bar code data interchange includes a bar code scanner, such as a high scan rate LED scanner, and reads bar coded information from a video display. This bar coded information is scanned from the video display into a host device. The bar coded information may be sent to a user in a variety of ways, including over the Internet, any intranet, or any type of telephony network. The bar coded information may be viewed by the user on the video display as part of an e-mail message, as displayed on a web-page, or as displayed on television programming. The scanned bar coded information is decoded and may then be used. A first software program may have been used to create the bar coded information, and a second and distinct software application may be used with the now decoded bar coded information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/532,557 filedSep. 18, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/325,713 filed Jan. 5, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/753,863 filed Jan. 3, 2001, now issued U.S. Pat.No. 7,070,103 issued Jul. 4, 2006, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/174,220 filed Jan. 3, 2000,60/213,843 filed Jun. 23, 2000, and 60/232,825 filed Sep. 15, 2000, allof which are entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BAR CODE DATA INTERCHANGEand all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to bar code technology, and moreparticularly to a method and apparatus for capturing bar codeinformation from a variety of video displays as well as other media, andusing this bar code information in a variety of applications.

2. Problems in the Art

The use of bar code technology has proliferated as a means for efficientdata collection. Generally, bar code technology allows for numbers,characters, or other symbols to be coded into a series ofone-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) spaced bars, as those termsare commonly known in the art. These bars are currently printed on thesurface of particular objects. A good description of various bar codesymbologies can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,059 to Ackley, hereinincorporated by reference. Currently a bar code scanner is used tocapture the pattern on the object, associated software decodes the barcode pattern, and the information from the decoded bar code pattern maybe used as data and acted upon accordingly. One current method ofreading bar codes is given in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,252 to Maltsev, and isherein incorporated by reference.

However, there are currently no known easy means for capturing bar codepatterns from a wide variety of video displays. Current methods forcapturing bar code data from a composite video signal requiresspecialized and sophisticated camera and computer equipment. The use ofsuch specialized and sophisticated camera and computer equipment is bothcumbersome and expensive. It is therefore desirable to provide a meansfor capturing bar code patterns from a wide variety of video displayswhich is easy to use and relatively inexpensive.

Current bar code scanners have been incorporated into a wide variety ofdevices. Bar code scanners can now be found incorporated into otherdevices, such as a computer mouse or a personal digital assistant.However, none of these current devices are capable of reading bar codesfrom a video display. It is therefore desirable to provide a variety ofdevices with a bar code scanner capable of reading bar codes from avideo display.

Currently, there are several problems associated with reading anddecoding video displayed bar codes. First, a video displayed bar code tothe human eye appears to be static. In reality, the video displayed barcode is flickering on and off many times per second. Second, a typicalbar code reader has a low scan rate of 30 to 100 scans per second, whichis not synchronized with the flickering video displayed bar code. Third,each type of video display has its own flicker, or refresh rate.Computer cathode ray tubes (CRT) commonly refresh from 72 Hz to 85 Hz.Computer liquid crystal displays (LCD) commonly refresh at 60 Hz. Aroundthe world there are different standards for television CRTs whichcommonly refresh at 50 Hz to 60 Hz. It would be expensive to create adevice to synchronize the flicker, or refresh, rates of multiple typesof video displays with the scan rates of bar code readers.

Most current bar code scanners simply do not scan fast enough to ensurethat a pixilated bar code image can be captured from a wide variety ofvideo displays currently in use. It is therefore desirable to have a barcode scanner which is capable of capturing a pixilated bar code imagefrom a wide variety of video displays.

The limiting nature of current bar code scanners also makes it difficultto interchange data across different computer operating systems and/orcomputer software applications. Currently, sophisticated computersoftware such as IBM DBT, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or otherprograms, commonly referred to as middleware, are required in computerto computer data interchange applications. This middleware is expensiveand requires a trained computer programmer to establish and maintain thedata transfer links. Furthermore, middleware is not flexible. Asbusiness trading partners and suppliers change, and/or the format ofdata storage is modified in a host computer, the service of a trainedcomputer programmer are required to maintain the data interchangecapabilities. It is therefore desirable to minimize the amount ofmiddleware software required.

Bar codes are currently one type of middleware. Current technologyallows off screen media or printed bar codes to be used as “switches” tolaunch Internet web pages, complete complex machinery initialization andsetup, dial a telephone number, etc. As the world moves toward apaperless society, it is desirable to provide a method for reading barcode switches which may be viewed on a video display.

There is therefore an unfilled need for a method and apparatus whichsolves these and other problems. This invention has as its primaryobjective fulfillment of this need.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

The general feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod and apparatus for bar code data interchange which overcomes theproblems found in the prior art.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of animproved method and apparatus for bar code data interchange which iscapable of reading video displayed bar code information.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange capable of reading videodisplayed standardized bar code symbology.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of an improvedmethod and apparatus for bar code data interchange which is capable ofreading video displayed proprietary bar code symbologies.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod and apparatus for bar code data interchange that includes a highscan rate LED reader as a stand alone device.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange that includes a high scanrate LED reader which is incorporated into a wide variety of devices.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod of bar code data interchange which minimizes the need formiddleware.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision a method ofbar code data interchange which allows for data to be exchanged betweencomputers using different operating systems.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodof bar code data interchange in which data may be exchanged betweendifferent computer software applications.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodfor bar code data interchange in which bar codes may be used as a“switch” to activate devices or links to other electronic documents suchas, but not limited to, e-mail, Internet web pages, word processordocuments, spreadsheets, databases, drawings, graphics, etc.

Another feature of the present invention is a method of bar code datainterchange in which computer software is used to create bar codeswithin a video displayed document.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange which allowsbusiness-consumer transactions via video displayed bar codes.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange which allowsbusiness-business transactions via video displayed bar codes.

These, as well as other features and advantages of the presentinvention, will become apparent from the following specification andclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for bar codedata interchange. This apparatus is generally comprised of a bar codereader which is capable of scanning bar codes displayed on a variety ofvideo displays, a decoder which transforms the scanned bar code intodata which may then be manipulated in a variety of ways by a hostdevice, such as a computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) or anyother device in which bar code data input may be desirable.

In a preferred embodiment, a consumer will scan in bar code informationfrom a video display, such as a television screen, through the use of ahigh scan rate LED scanner and obtain information on a desired product,a link to the product's web site, or other useful information.Businesses too, will scan in bar code information directly from videodisplays into their desired host device. This scanned information is notformatted specifically for any business software and therefore is easilytransferable between businesses which may use different softwareapplications to manipulate the same data to suit their needs. Thisminimizes the need for many of the conversion programs or interpretationprograms, commonly known as middleware, and provides data interchangeacross a wide variety of settings for a myriad of purposes.

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus for bar codedata interchange will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as wellas a realization of the additional features and advantages thereof, by aconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawingswhich will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a stand alone bar code reader.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an integrated bar code reader.

FIG. 3 represents an example of a bar coded document on a video displayin a universal data interchange application.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing video displayed bar codes synchronizedwith public radio and TV broadcasts.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the equipment used and dataflow in a universal data interchange application of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that depicts the general configuration of oneembodiment of the present invention. A general operating diagram of atypical stand alone bar code reader 108 which is capable of reading barcode information from a video display screen is shown. This type of barcode reader may be referred to as a video displayed bar code reader.Preferably the bar code reader 108 is a stand alone, high scan rate LEDbar code reader 108. Preferably it is also hand manipulatable. This typeof bar code reader 108 has two basic components, a high scan rate LEDscanner 102 and decoder 103. The high scan rate LED scanner 102 capturesvideo displayed 100 and/or off screen media (printed) 101 bar codeddata. These video displayed bar codes 100 and/or off screen media barcodes 101 may be either standardized or proprietary bar code formats.Common standardized 1D and 2D bar code formats include Code 39, Code128, Interleaved 2 of 5, PDF 417, etc.

The present invention captures video displayed bar codes 100 fromsources such as, but not limited to, a digital TV screen, a CRT computermonitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TV screen, or off screenmedia bar codes 101.

High scan rate LED scanner 102 supplies output to decoder 103. Thedecoder 103 transforms the scanned bar code into useable electronic dataas is commonly known in the art. The output of decoder 103 is suppliedto another device, such as a computer for further processing via output104. Output 104 may be transmitted to a universal serial bus (USB)connection, PCMCIA card connection, radio interface, or an infraredinterface, etc.

Using a high scan rate LED bar code reader 108 allows a wide variety ofvideo displayed bar codes to be read and decoded by increasing thenumber of bar code scans per second. A high scan rate LED bar codereader 108 can be a stand alone device as described in FIG. 1, orintegrated into another device 200 as described in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that depicts a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention which integrates a high scan rate LED bar code scanner102 into device 200 using microprocessor 201 and random access memory(RAM) 202.

It will be readily understood by one skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be integrated into a device 200, such as a cell phone, aland line phone, PDA, computer mouse, GPS receiver, pager, a two-waycommunication device, a personal bar code reader known as a fob, etc.

A high scan rate LED bar code scanner 102 captures video displayed barcodes 100 and/or off screen media bar codes 101. These video displayedbar codes 100 and/or off screen media bar codes 101 may be eitherstandardized or proprietary bar code formats. Common standardized 1D and2D bar code formats include Code 39, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, PDF417, etc.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention captures and decodesvideo displayed bar codes 100 from sources such as, but not limited to,a digital TV screen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystal display(LCD), a CRT TV screen, or off screen media bar codes 101.

The high scan rate LED bar code scanner 102 transmits signals tomicroprocessor 201. Microprocessor 201 in conjunction with random accessmemory (RAM) 202 can perform computing functions of device 200, and alsotransforms these signals into data. This data may be used for display bydevice 200, or may be transmitted to I/O port 203 to interface withanother device such as a PC, PDA, GPS receiver, pager, a two-waycommunication device, a personal bar code reader known as a fob, etc.I/O port 203 may be a RS-232, PCMCIA slot, USB, infrared, proprietary,etc.

These video displayed bar codes 100 and/or off screen media bar codes101 can also be used as switches to launch Internet web pages, dial atelephone number, complete complex machinery initialization and set-up,etc.

As an example, Motorola, Inc., Symbol Technologies, Inc., ConnectThings, Inc. an affiliate of LM Ericsson AB, and AirClic, Inc. havecreated a unique registry of web codes, which are bar codes containinginstructions for executing exact tasks. This enables wireless phones,cable TV set-top terminals, and other Internet-enabled appliances toaccess the Internet via current bar code scanning technology.

Bar codes, and web codes are printed on products, in publicationsincluding newspapers, brochures, and company advertisements, etc. Byscanning a web code with a bar code-enabled Internet device, people willbe connected directly to websites to order products, find information,and manage everyday tasks and transactions. As people scan web codeswith these new Internet devices information will be sent instantly to aweb code registry, which interprets the nature of the inquiry anddelivers corresponding information to users. The information willinclude product-ordering links, promotional offers, downloads for music,product usage and service data, as well as links to other applicableInternet sites. Users will get transparent, universal access to productsand services. The system supports “Internet-enhanced” standard UPC andEAN bar codes already positioned on millions of products worldwide.

The ability to display and read video displayed bar codes 100, which canbe web codes, will greatly enhance the dynamic capabilities of thepreviously described system.

FIG. 3 represents an electronic bar coded document on a computer windowvideo display ready for data capture and interchange to an activecomputer window on the same computer screen.

Element 300 is a personal computer monitor. A personal computer monitoris shown, but this video display may be a laptop LCD screen, a personaldigital assistant LCD screen, etc. Element 301 is an open window onpersonal computer monitor 300 displaying an electronic bar codeddocument. Element 307 is an active window on personal computer monitor300 representing a software application in use on a business informationsystem.

Element 302 is human readable information, such as “Qty” (the word“Quantity” abbreviated) shown. Element 303 is human readableinformation, the number “12”. Element 304 is video displayed bar codedinformation representing the number “12”.

Element 304 is captured and decoded from the computer monitor 300 usinga high scan rate LED bar code reader 108 (shown in FIG. 1). Thiscaptured information is then output from the bar code reader 108 andinput into the user's computer (not shown). The user's computer softwareaccepts this input through a variety of commonly available softwareapplications and the input is entered as the number “12” into element306 which is a highlighted field in a business system informationsoftware application.

To illustrate one method of the bar code data interchange application ofthe present invention, Company A uses software such as MICROSOFT EXCELon their PC to create an electronic document (i.e. a Purchase Order).This software creates documents that contain electronic representationsof bar coded information through the use of bar code fonts which resideon the local computer and are commonly available today. The electronicPurchase Order is e-mailed to Company B, using MICROSOFT OUTLOOKsoftware, as an example, in Standard Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)format across any variety of networks, such as the internet or anintranet. Optionally, the electronic bar coded document could reside onan Internet web page on a web server.

Company B opens their e-mail, which is in SMTP format using NETSCAPEMAIL software, as an example, to receive Company A's Purchase Order.Company B wishes to enter information from Company A's electronicPurchase Order into their own business information system. Company Bwill capture the video displayed bar codes directly from the e-maildisplayed on their PC screen with a high scan rate, LED bar code reader,then exchanges that data into their own business system, using CORELPARADOX software, running in MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system, asexamples.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the field in the business information system,the “Qty” 302 in this example is highlighted. A bar code reader ispointed at the electronic bar coded “Qty” shown as 304 in the e-mailwindow, and inputs that data into the highlighted field 306 in thewindow running the business information system as the trigger on the barcode reader is squeezed.

If both Company A and B are using software on their PCs to createelectronic documents that contain video displayed bar coded information,such as Code 39, Code 128, EAN, or UPC, they can do two-way datainterchange without any sophisticated middleware. This system as it isdesigned is very flexible and allows any company, or person, with thissoftware and high scan rate LED bar code reader to capture, decode,store, use, and interchange data with any other company, or person,operating this software. This system is easy to use, easy to install,and inexpensive to own and operate.

Another embodiment of the present invention allows the user tosuccessively scan multiple bar codes identified with a field tag into asoftware application residing on the user's computer. In thisembodiment, the field tags would be identified using the “function keys”F1, F2, F3, etc., on standard computer keyboards. This inputs the cachedscanned data elements into the integrated software applicationone-at-a-time or as a group. The data tags are used as identificationfor inputting data into the correct fields in the integrated softwareapplications. The integrated software strips the data tag from the dataelement so only the relevant data is input into the appropriate field.

As an example, two companies might agree to exchange data for variouscustomers contained in their respective databases: first name, lastname, and age. Using the appropriate “function key” to identifyparticular data elements, the two companies would agree the “functionkey” for first name data is F1, the “function key” for last name data isF2, and the “function key” tag for age data is F3. The software would beprogrammable on-the-fly to tag data fields with the appropriate“function key”. The software would automatically tag the data elementsfrom the database with the appropriate “function key” tag. The followingchart is an example of this “function key” tagging.

Tagged Data Element (Data Field) (tagged data element in “FunctionActual Data bar code form = “function key” Tag Element key” + actualdata element) F1 (First Name) F1JACK JACK

F2 (Last Name) F2SMITH SMITH

F3 (Age) F345 45

This embodiment of the present invention greatly reduces the number oftransaction errors and greatly increase the speed of data interchange.

Data elements not identified by the same “function keys” could be usedby multiple users, but this adds another step in the transactionprocess, and introduces the possibility of more input errors.

To illustrate another method of bar code data interchange, the presentinvention can use a variety of new standard e-mail interfaces andformats which include an expanded list of fields for data input, ofwhich some fields may be available for video displayed bar codes. Thisexpanded list of pre-defined data fields would allow easy transfer ofdata into integrated programs.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the basic elements needed to synchronizevideo displayed bar codes with AM or FM radio station broadcasts, or TVstation broadcasts.

Item 400 is an AM or FM radio station, or TV station broadcasting avariety of programs, music, and commercials. Radio or TV stations 400have the ability to broadcast synchronized digital informationsimultaneously over logic trunked radio (LTR) 401, as an example. Thisdigital information is then continuously converted to a video displayedbar code during the duration of the relevant program, music, orcommercial by commonly available software. This video displayed bar codeis displayed on a radio display 402, a TV 403, or a separate displaymodule 404. As an example, during a commercial the video displayed barcode might represent a web address or phone number corresponding withthe advertisement being broadcast. A user would capture, decode, andstore video displayed bar coded data with a high scan rate LED bar codereader integrated into a cell phone, pager, key fob, etc., which may beused to dial a phone number, launch a web page, etc. now or at anydesired time.

FIG. 5 represents the basic elements required in the present inventionas part of a universal, business-to-business, data interchange systemusing video displayed bar codes 100 and/or off screen media bar codes101 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Laptop computer 500, may also be a personal computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), etc. Laptop computer 500 is equipped with a high scanrate LED bar code reader 108 and the appropriate software commonly usedwith non-video display reading bar code readers. This software may beused and only requires that the high scan rate LED bar code reader 108be appropriately set up by initializing it with a video displayed barcode rather than a printed bar code.

Personal computer 530, may also be a laptop computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), etc. Personal computer 530 is equipped with a high scanrate LED bar code reader 108.

A high scan rate LED bar code reader 108, such as an Intermec ScanPlus1800 series CCD reader, is shown connected to laptop computer 500 andanother high scan rate LED bar code reader 108 is shown connected topersonal computer 530. The bar code readers 108 are shown hardwired tothe respective computers, but may be connected wirelessly via radio orinfrared. A high scan rate LED bar code scanner 102 as shown in FIG. 2,may also be integrated into a device 200 as shown in FIG. 2 which maythen either take the place of one of the computers 500 or 530 shown inFIG. 5 or operatively link thereto.

Laptop computer 500, is shown connected via a telephony network 510 to acomputer server 520, which can be either an e-mail or web server. Thetelephony network 510 is shown as traditional, copper-based, hard-wiretelephony medium, but also may be a combination of fiber-optic, or radiobased telephony medium. The computer server 520 can be on the Internet,a wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), or a localarea network (LAN).

Computer server 520, either an e-mail or web server is shown connectedvia a telephony network 510 to a personal computer 530.

Laptop computer 500 and personal computer 530 are loaded with softwarethat creates electronic bar coded documents, using readily available,easy-to-use software such as, but not limited to, MICROSOFT WORD,MICROSOFT FRONTPAGE, MICROSOFT EXCEL, and ADOBE PAGEMILL, or customizedintegrated software applications. This greatly reduces, or eliminatesthe need for experienced programmers and expensive specializedmiddleware. This software is designed to automatically create bar codeddata using either fonts (which may currently be installed or areincluded in some software applications) or graphics in electronic orprinted documents.

Laptop computer 500 and personal computer 530 are loaded with software,such as any of the software previously mentioned, that creates anelectronic bar coded document ready for transmission using an e-mailapplication such as, but not limited to, MICROSOFT OUTLOOK.

Since both laptop computer 500 and personal computer 530 are equippedwith high scan rate LED bar code readers 108, and software that createsand transmits an electronic bar coded document, the system shown in FIG.5 can capture, transmit, and interchange video displayed bar coded dataacross differing computer operating systems and/or software applicationsat point of data transaction.

In another embodiment of FIG. 5, in a personal-to-business transaction,laptop computer 500 can be equipped with a TV card. As an example, in ahome shopping application, bar coded data is captured and decodeddirectly from the television CRT using a high scan rate LED bar codereader 108. This information is directly interchanged over the Internetwith a representative from the shopping show. The high scan rate LED barcode reader 108 is also used to scan credit card information, andpersonal information from a driver's license to help automate thispersonal-to-business transaction. The combination of access to theInternet, WANs, MANs, and LANs with video displayed bar codes will makeit easy to develop centralized consumer and business applications thatrequire variable information necessary to fill out forms, records,reports, etc. Some examples of these applications are as follows:

-   -   1) An enhanced electronic ticket generation system for law        enforcement    -   2) An enhanced electronic reporting and grading system for        school systems    -   3) An enhanced electronic billing and passport system for        resorts, hotels, etc.    -   4) An enhanced electronic inventory system for insurance        agencies to interact with homeowners and businesses    -   5) An enhanced electronic patient records and medication        distribution system for hospitals, nursing homes, doctor's        offices, dentists, etc.    -   6) An enhanced electronic system for automotive repairs, service        & warranty work    -   7) An enhanced electronic shopping system to select merchandise        from a printed catalog, wholesale or retail outlet, etc.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment and other embodiments of amethod and apparatus for bar code data interchange, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of thepresent invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated thatvarious modifications, adaptations, and alternatives may be made. It isof course not possible to describe every conceivable combination ofcomponents for purposes of describing the present invention. All suchpossible modifications are to be included within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention which is to be further defined by the followingclaims.

1-42. (canceled)
 43. A data exchange system, comprising: a processor; adisplay operatively coupled to the processor; and a computer readablemedium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causethe processor to perform a method comprising: displaying an electronicdocument in a first software application on the display, the electronicdocument having a bar code; receiving electronic data associated withthe bar code; and inserting the electronic data into a data field in asecond software application different than the first softwareapplication.
 44. The data exchange system of claim 43 wherein the dataexchange system further includes a bar code reader operatively coupledto the processor, the bar code reader includes an LED scanner configuredto capture an image of the bar code in the electronic document on thedisplay and a decoder configured to decode the captured image of the barcode into the electronic data; the first software application includesat least one of an email application, a web browser, a word processor,and a spreadsheet application; the second software application includesa database application; the display includes at least one of atelevision, a radio display, a laptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDAscreen, a digital TV screen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a CRT TV screen, a cell phone screen, a land line phonescreen, a computer mouse, a GPS receiver, and a pager; the electronicdata associated with the bar code include a field tag and a data elementassociated with the field tag; the method further includes stripping thefield tag from the data element; and inserting the decode informationincludes inserting the data element into a data field in the databaseapplication identified by the field tag.
 45. The data exchange system ofclaim 43 wherein the electronic data associated with the bar codeinclude a field tag and a data element associated with the field tag;the method further includes stripping the field tag from the dataelement; and inserting the decode information includes inserting thedata element into a data field in the second software applicationidentified by the field tag.
 46. The data exchange system of claim 43wherein the electronic data associated with the bar code include aplurality of field tags and corresponding data elements identified bythe individual field tags; the method further includes stripping theindividual field tags from the corresponding data elements; andinserting the electronic data includes inserting the individual dataelements into a data field in the second software application identifiedby the corresponding individual field tags.
 47. The data exchange systemof claim 43 wherein the bar code includes at least one of a 2D bar codeand a 1D bar code.
 48. The data exchange system of claim 43 wherein thefirst software application includes at least one of an emailapplication, a web browser, a word processor, and a spreadsheetapplication; the second software application includes a databaseapplication; and the display includes at least one of a television, aradio display, a laptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDA screen, a digital TVscreen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TVscreen, a cell phone screen, a land line phone screen, a computer mouse,a GPS receiver, and a pager.
 49. The data exchange system of claim 43wherein the display includes at least one of a television, a radiodisplay, a laptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDA screen, a digital TVscreen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TVscreen, a cell phone screen, a land line phone screen, a computer mouse,a GPS receiver, and a pager; and the data exchange system furtherincludes a bar code reader, the bar code reader including an LED scannerconfigured to capture an image of the bar code in the electronicdocument on the display and a decoder configured to decode the capturedimage of the bar code into the electronic data.
 50. The data exchangesystem of claim 43 wherein the display includes at least one of atelevision, a radio display, a laptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDAscreen, a digital TV screen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a CRT TV screen, a cell phone screen, a land line phonescreen, a computer mouse, a GPS receiver, and a pager; the data exchangesystem further includes a bar code reader, the bar code reader includesan LED scanner configured to capture an image of the bar code in theelectronic document on the display and a decoder configured to decodethe captured image of the bar code into the electronic data; and theelectronic data include at least one switch to perform at least one oflaunching an Internet web page, dialing a telephone number, andcompleting a machinery initialization.
 51. A bar code reader,comprising: a bar code scanner; a decoder operatively coupled to the barcode scanner; a microprocessor and a random access memory operativelycoupled to the decoder; the random access memory containing instructionsthat, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the bar code reader toperform a method comprising: capturing an image of a bar code with thebar code scanner, the bar code being included in an electronic documentdisplayed on a video display; and decoding the bar code in theelectronic document based on the captured image of the bar code; andobtaining decoded information associated with the bar code.
 52. The barcode reader of claim 51 wherein the bar code scanner includes an LEDscanner; capturing an image of a bar code includes capturing an image ofa bar code in an electronic document with the LED scanner, theelectronic document being displayed on at least one of a television, aradio display, a laptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDA screen, a digital TVscreen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TVscreen, a cell phone screen, a land line phone screen, a computer mouse,a GPS receiver, and a pager; the decoded information associated with thebar code includes a field tag and a data element associated with thefield tag; the method further includes: separating the field tag fromthe data element; performing at least one of: inserting the data elementinto a data field of a database software, the data field beingidentified by the field tag; outputting the data element to at least oneof a personal computer, a PDA, a GPS receiver, a pager, and a two-waycommunication device via at least one of an RS-232 port, a PCMCIA slot,a USB port, and an infrared portion; and displaying the data element onat least one of a television, a radio display, a laptop screen, a PCmonitor, a PDA screen, a digital TV screen, a CRT computer monitor, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TV screen, a cell phone screen, aland line phone screen, a computer mouse, a GPS receiver, and a pager.53. The bar code reader of claim 51 wherein the method further includesoutputting the decoded information to at least one of a personalcomputer, a PDA, a GPS receiver, a pager, and a two-way communicationdevice via at least one of an RS-232 port, a PCMCIA slot, a USB port,and an infrared portion.
 54. The bar code reader of claim 51 whereincapturing an image of a bar code includes capturing an image of the barcode in the electronic document displayed on at least one of atelevision, a radio display, a laptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDAscreen, a digital TV screen, a CRT computer monitor, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a CRT TV screen, a cell phone screen, a land line phonescreen, a computer mouse, a GPS receiver, and a pager.
 55. The bar codereader of claim 51 wherein the method further includes displaying thedecoded information on at least one of a television, a radio display, alaptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDA screen, a digital TV screen, a CRTcomputer monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TV screen, acell phone screen, a land line phone screen, a computer mouse, a GPSreceiver, and a pager.
 56. The bar code reader of claim 51 wherein theinformation associated with the bar code includes a field tag and a dataelement associated with the field tag; the method further includes:separating the field tag from the data element; and inserting thedecoded data element into a data field of a database software, the datafield being identified by the field tag.
 57. The bar code reader ofclaim 51 wherein the bar code scanner includes an LED scanner.
 58. Anapparatus, comprising: a video display for displaying an electronicdocument containing a bar code, means for capturing an image of the barcode in the electronic document when displayed on the video display;means for decoding the captured image of the bar code data intoelectronic data, and means for automatically inserting the decodedelectronic data into a data field associated with a softwareapplication.
 59. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising: meansfor receiving and processing the electronic document for displaying theelectronic document on the video display; and means for displaying thedecoded electronic data.
 60. The apparatus of claim 58, furthercomprising: means for receiving and processing the electronic documentfor displaying the electronic document on the video display; and meansfor outputting the decoded electronic data to an external device via anelectronic link.
 61. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the informationassociated with the bar code includes a field tag and a data elementassociated with the field tag; means for decoding the captured image ofthe bar code include means for stripping the field tag from the dataelement; and means for inserting the data include means for insertingthe data element into a data field in the software applicationidentified by the field tag.
 62. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein thevideo display includes at least one of a television, a radio display, alaptop screen, a PC monitor, a PDA screen, a digital TV screen, a CRTcomputer monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT TV screen, acell phone screen, a land line phone screen, a computer mouse, a GPSreceiver, and a pager.
 63. A computer-readable medium havinginstructions stored thereon, that if executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to perform acts, comprising: displaying an electronic documentin a first software application on a display, the electronic documenthaving a bar code; receiving electronic data associated with the barcode; and inserting the electronic data into a data field in a secondsoftware application different than the first software application. 64.The computer-readable medium of claim 63 wherein the electronic dataassociated with the bar code include a field tag and a data elementassociated with the field tag; the acts further include: stripping thefield tag from the data element; and inserting the decode informationincludes inserting the data element into a data field in the databaseapplication identified by the field tag.
 65. The computer-readablemedium of claim 63 wherein the electronic data associated with the barcode include a field tag and a data element associated with the fieldtag; the acts further include: stripping the field tag from the dataelement; and inserting the decode information includes inserting thedata element into a data field in the second software applicationidentified by the field tag.
 66. The computer-readable medium of claim63 wherein the electronic data associated with the bar code include aplurality of field tags and corresponding data elements identified bythe individual field tags; the acts further include: stripping theindividual field tags from the corresponding data elements; andinserting the electronic data includes inserting the individual dataelements into a data field in the second software application identifiedby the corresponding individual field tags.